BREEDS OF PIGS IN THE UNITED STATES. 109 



ear is often small and erect, then again large, thick, and 

 lopped, like that of an elephant. Blue spots often appear 

 on the skin, and sometimes black spots on the hair. These 

 and other great variations, in external form and other 

 qualities show that the Chester County pig represents his 

 individual self, and is not a type of a well established 

 breed. 



"In the best specimens there are, however, a contribu- 

 tion of more valuable points than belong to any other. 

 As Ellman and Webb and Bake well did with sheep, and 

 with a far less favorable starting point, it is hoped some 

 one may be found to take up the Chester County hog, 

 and, by a persevering course of careful selections, breed 

 him up to a still higher standard, and give him a more 

 definite type and character. 



"Any one can do this for himself, but the constant varia- 

 tions in their appearance would seem to show that it has 

 not yet been done by any one. An impure Southdown 

 lamb cannot be produced from a full-bred dam and sire ; 

 and yet a misshapen and ill-shaped pig is sometimes pro- 

 duced from what are called ' pure Chesters.' '' 



Coming from a distinguished advocate and breeder of 

 Chester County pigs, this statement is as candid as it is 

 explicit. We may take it for granted that the Chester 

 Whites are not an established breed, like the Berkshires 

 or Essex. They will not breed true. This would not be 

 so very objectionable in itself, but it follows that, when 

 we wish to improve our common stock, we should not re- 

 sort to a Chester County boar. It is an axiom in breed- 

 ing that we should use nothing but thorough-bred males. 

 Chester County sows, when judiciously selected, are far 

 superior to our ordinary run of pigs, and this breed will 

 long continue valuable for the purpose of furnishing good 

 breeding sows to cross with some good thorough-bred 

 boar of the English breeds. 



And it may be, as Mr. Morris suggests, that we shall 



